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Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Congratulations to Sherrye Johnson Trafton for her impressive performances at the Equine Affaire's Versatile Horse and Rider competition.
Sherrye placed an incredible three horses in the finals. Then, she went on to win on Slick and placed sixth and eighth with Cat and King Rocky, respectively.
Great job, Sherrye!
Click here to view one of her 2009 runs on Slick.
Click here to read about her 2009 experience.
Kim Stone and her horse, Tabasco, competed in her first Versatile Horse and Rider competitio. Many were there to cheer her on.
Way to represent the neighborhood, ladies!
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 Nearly all the time, Brooke is fine. She is my 14 year-old, rescued quarterhorse who spent much of her life in a 10 x 10 stall with three other horses. She gave birth to a colt in that stall, making it five horses in one stall.
She's come a long way. She is the Bell Mare, for sure. She dominates my other two mares. But she isn't nearly as food aggressive as she was when she arrived a few years ago...when you needed some sort of implement (muck rack, crop, and BIG BOSS attitude) to keep her at a respectful distance during feed time. That was a sticky remnant of those years when she had to fight for her survival.
Overall things are nice 'n' mellow at my barn. It's a healthy, calm environment.
Every once in a while, though, there are glimpes of the trauma she experienced.
Sometimes, when I do last call, I will find her in her stall, her nose almost touching the stall wall. She looks like she's in a trance. With eyes wide open. Unmoving. Frozen.
My friend, Barbara Stanley, recognized this phenomenon in her rescued horse, Magic. She said he was "withdrawn into a safe place deep within his heart, where no one could reach him." Click here for story.
I've failed to photograph this moment. As soon as she notices me, she seems to snap out of it.
Sure wish I could help her...if she needs help, that is.
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Wednesday, November 10, 2010
 Wet, Cold, Breezy, and Raw, with occasional power outages.
Sound familiar?
I was thinking April when I moved the horses to and from the field today. Their hooves sucked out of mud with every step. The only dry surface they felt was on the rubber mats of their stalls overnight. They are getting increasingly hungry with the coming cold.
Feed me. Now! I need to put on reserves. Now!
What goes around, comes around, huh?
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Two 4H groups and other members of the Maine horse community turned the "Fill the Horse Trailer" event into a windfall for Rockin' T Equine Rescue.
Loose Shoe 4H and Equine, Etc 4H, along with Black Horse Farm, Triple J Farm and Tractor Supply of Brunswick teamed up to help Rockin' T, owned by Janet Tuttle in Lisbon.
Over $1,500 was raised.
Tractor Supply donated over 40 bags of grain, said manager Dave Smith.
The event is a nice reminder that equine rescue are FULL and in constant NEED.
Please remember them and consider a charitable gift this holiday season.
Photos from the event:
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Thursday, November 04, 2010
 Last week, I took a ride around the woods before the curtain closed on the season.
The Last Ride was uneventful but lovely. My horse and I listened to the squirrels and sparrows in the undergrowth. Oak and maple leaves fell slowly as we passed through their trees.
The pack of two dozen resident turkeys moved away as we passed them on the outskirts of their field. A Great Blue Heron lifted off from the small pond at the back of the field. Sorry to disturb you, buddy.
Yep, I’m one of those riders staying out of the woods during deer season, which started last weekend.
Too many bad memories. Too many audible gunshots around my neighborhood.
Who wants to spend the bulk of a ride, singing loudly and glaring into the woods for trigger-tempted hunters?
Not me.
CLICK HERE for article.
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 Sherrye Johnson-Trafton and Kim Stone will proudly represent Maine when they compete next weekend in the 4th annual Versatile Horse and Rider competition at the Equine Affaire.
Sherrye claimed Reserve Champion honors last year. Read more about it by clicking here.
This is the first trip to the competition for Kim, who has ridden extensively with Martin Black at the Alvord Ranch in eastern Oregon.
GOOD LUCK, ladies!
We'll be rootin' for ya!
Photo at right: Last year's winner, judges, and EA representives.
For more info at the Equine Affaire site, click here
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